Ministers will change the law in order to enforce the local coronavirus lockdown in Leicester, the health secretary has told Sky News.
"We will be bringing forward a legal change very shortly in the next couple of days," Matt Hancock said.
"Some of the measures that we've unfortunately had to take in Leicester will require a legal underpinning." Mr Hancock said that"in some cases" the lockdown will be enforced by the police, with legal changes brought in to ensure non-essential retail is no longer open.Asked how people would be stopped from travelling outside the city, the health secretary replied:"We're recommending against all but essential travel both to and from and within Leicester, and as we saw during the peak, the vast majority of people will abide by these rules.
"Of course we will take further action including putting in place laws if that is necessary but I very much hope it won't be."
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